1. God's Word is a border for my life. As long as I stay within the guidelines laid out in Scripture, I'll have what I need to do what I need to do. God is faithful and true to His Word.

2. I have to be willing to finish what I start. God uses committed people who aren't led by emotion. It's easy to be excited in the beginning when something is new, but the ones who cross the finish line are the ones who hang in there when no one else is excited anymore.

3. When no one is there to help me, I get to know Jesus really well. The narrow road of living for God and not conforming to the ways of the world is often lonely. But the trade-off of gaining real intimacy with Christ is worth more than anything you could ever get from the world.

this was in a devotional I read this morning by Joyce...
I remember back to the time when I was off work that 4months and I basically left everyone I was close to at the time.. and it was truly a time of solitude and seeking God.. I would say there has never been a time in my life other than that when I truly gave myself to God completely... I believe actually that I was prepared before it happened by some of the people that God had put in my life for that particular season to help me get ready for it..

before that time.. I had a 'genie' outlook on God.. or a 'let's make a deal' outlook... I wanted Him to do for me.. but I really didn't want to sacrifice anything for Him... or I would say I will do this.. if you will do that... this was the time I learned to love God just for being God.. just for looking my way.. I really had an in depth look at who I am.. and who I am not.. and I saw how truly unworthy I am of God's love.. yet He loves me anyways...

those four months truly transformed my life.. I could never go back to who I was before.. I could never do the things I did before.. I have truly been changed from the inside out... my life truly belongs to God now.. whatever He chooses is what I am desiring... whoever He calls me to be is who I will be.. I love God in a way that I have never loved anyone or anything before... God has shown me the value of a Father.. He has become Lord of my life.. and my Father...

and I am thankful.... truly deeply full of gratitude...